From [HERE] and [HERE] Former Houston police officer Andrew Blomberg was not following procedure during a police beating and arrest of a 15-year-old burglary suspect in 2010, an expert in police policy testified Monday, the last witness in Blomberg's trial for official oppression. "Yes, I do believe it amounts to mistreatment of a prisoner," said Ken Katsaris, a police expert from Florida.
Katsaris, a rebuttal witness for the prosecution, testified against Blomberg, who was fired from the police department for his role in Chad Holley's beating, which was caught on video on March 24, 2010.
Katsaris said Blomberg's actions were "objectively unreasonable" and were "contrary to any legitimate police action." He also said he believes Blomberg "stomped" on the teen's head as other officers kicked and punched him.
Blomberg is charged with misdemeanor official oppression and faces up to one year in prison if he is convicted by the jury. An all-white jury of six men and women plus one alternate have listened to the testimony in the trial and will decide the fate of the former officer.
Defense lawyers spent Monday morning arguing that Katsaris should be allowed to testify only about police policy in general, not Blomberg's case specifically.
Blomberg and other officers were caught on surveillance video hitting and kicking the teen as he lay on his stomach with his hands on the back of his head. The beating appears to continue after the teen was handcuffed, but Blomberg was only next to the teen for about four seconds.
Blomberg can be seen in the recording bringing his foot down forcefully near Holley's head. Prosecutors say he stomped the teen's head or neck.
Blomberg testified last week that he was trying to wedge his boot into the crook of Holley's arm to force the teen to put his hands behind his head.
He said he believed Holley and his friends, who had just committed a daytime burglary, may have been armed and dangerous.
The teen, who did not have a gun, was arrested and later convicted of burglary.
State District Judge Ruben Guerrero scheduled closing arguments in the misdemeanor trial, now in its third week, for Tuesday.
The courtroom gallery, which holds about 60 people, has been packed with spectators from both sides for most of the trial. Community activists, demonstrators and others who want to see Blomberg convicted are crammed into pews with Blomberg's friends and family. On Monday, three uniformed HPD officers sat with Blomberg's family. They declined to comment after Monday's proceedings.